Effect of Some Preharvest Treatments on Quality and Ripening of “Canino” Apricot Fruits

I. Applications at Pit Hardening. Karim M. Farag, Amr M. Haikal and Said M. Attia

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University,

P.O.Box 22516, Damanhour, Egypt.

E-mail: karimmfarag@hotmail.com

Abstract This study was conducted during two successive seasons 2007 and 2008 by using "Canino" apricot cultivar (Prunus armeniaca L.) grafted on Balady apricot rootstock. Trees were sprayed with a hand sprayer to the run off. Treatments included water as the control, Ethephon at 200 ppm alone or in a combination with either CaCl2 or oleic acid, in addition to oleic acid at 400 ppm, CaCl2 (2 % w/v), The nonionic surfactant Tween 80 at 0.1% (v/v) was added to all treatments which were applied once at pit hardening (8th, 2nd May during 2007 and 2008 respectively).This study aimed to mitigating the adverse effects of ethephon on apricot fruits by incorporating CaCl2 or oleic acid into the applied solution and investigating the possibility of using oleic acid as a natural coloring and ripening agent of apricot fruits. Ethephon-treated fruits resulted in decreased fruit firmness, fruit size, stone weight, chlorophyll a and acidity, while, increased flesh/ stone ratio, carotenes, total sugars, reducing sugars, TSS and TSS/ acidity ratio. Ethephon treatment had no consistent influence on fruit

weight, flesh weight, and chlorophyll b. On the other hand, ethephon did not cause a significant change on fruit diameter and fruit length at harvest in both seasons when compared with the control. The incorporation of CaCl2 with ethephon mitigated the adverse effect of ethephon on fruit firmness, however, the incorporation of CaCl2 with ethephon decreased fruit size, fruit diameter, fruit weight, flesh weight, chlorophyll a and acidity, while, increased carotenes, reducing sugars, TSS and TSS/ acidity ratio. Meanwhile, the incorporation of oleic acid with ethephon mitigated the adverse effect of ethephon on fruit firmness and caused a significant increase in fruit size, fruit weight, flesh weight, carotenes, total sugars, reducing sugars, TSS and TSS/ acidity ratio, while, decreased chlorophyll b and acidity. The incorporation of oleic acid with ethephon had no consistent influence on chlorophyll a, fruit diameter, fruit length, flesh/stone ratio, and non-reducing sugars. On the other hand, formulating oleic acid with ethephon did not cause a significant change in stone weight as compared with the control. Furthermore, oleic acid-treated fruits at 400 ppm increased fruit size, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit weight, flesh weight, flesh/stone ratio, carotenes, reducing sugars and TSS. oleic acid-treated had no consistent influence on fruit firmness, chlorophyll b, acidity and TSS/ acidity ratio.

Published: Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 6(7): 518-531, 2012 ISSN 1991-8178

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Enhancing Coloration And Quality Of "Crimson" Seedless Grape Berries Cultivare By Preharvest Applications Of Natural Phenolic Compounds.

Karim M. Farag; Amr M. Haikal; Neven M.N. Nagy and Yasmine S. Hezema.

Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, P.O.

BOX 22516, Damanhour,Egypt.

ABSTRACT

Phenolic compounds are part of the synthetic pathway of anthocyanins. Thus, this research was conducted to investigate the effect some of these compounds on enhancing coloration of "Crimson" seedless grapes. This study was conducted during two successive seasons 2009 and 2010 by using "Crimson" seedless table grapes. Vines were grown at Bader district, Beheira, Egypt. Vines were sprayed in two application times with a hand sprayer to the run off. The treatments included water as the control, p- coumaric acid at 500, 1000 ppm; benzoic acid at 500, 1000 ppm and all applied at veraison, while the second application followed first one by five days. The non-ionic surfactant Tween-80 was added to all treatments at 0.05% (v/v). It was found that, non of the treatments affected physical characteristics

such as berry weight, berry size, juice volume, berry diameter and length. However, all treatments resulted in a significant reduction of green berries percentage and acidity compared with the control. Using coumaric acid in both concentrations caused a reduction of chlorophyll a, b contents in berries skin, were the best in increasing red berries percentage, the intensity of carotene, TSS and TSS/ acidity ratio. Coumaric acid at 1000 ppm resulted in the highest anthocyanin content compared with control. Key words: "Crimson'' seedless, Table grapes, phenolic compounds, p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, Anthocyanin, coloration

Published in :Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences

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of vegetables. Journal of Food Science, 73(4): R48-R65. Human, M.A., 2010. Effect of shading and ethephon on the anthocyanin composition of ‘Crimson Seedless’ (Vitis vinifera L.). M.Sc. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. South Africa. Hunter, J.J., O.T. de Villiers and J.E. Watts, 1991. The effect of partial defoliation on quality characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. II. Skin color, skin sugar, and wine quality. Am. J. Enol. Vitic., 42: 13-18.

Macheix, J.-J., A. Fleuriet and J. Billot, 1990. Fruit phenolics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC.

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development and ripening. Am. J. Enol. Vitic., 31: 34-36. SAS., 2000. Statistical analyses software version 2000. Raleigh. NC.U.S.A. Sendecor, G.W. and W.G. Cochran, 1980. Statistical methods. 6th Ed. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, Iowa. USA. Smart, R.E., S.M. Smith and R.V. Winchester, 1988. Light quality and quantity effects on fruit ripening for Cabernet Sauvignon. Amer. J. Enol. Viticult., 39: 109-116. Smith, F., 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugar and related substance. Analytical chemistry, 28: 350-356. Thiman, K.V., Y.H. Emondson and B.S. 1951. The biogenesis of anthocyanin III the role of sugars in anthocyanin formation. Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 34: 305- 323. Wen, P.F., J.Y. Chen, W.F. Kong, Q.H. Pan, S.B. Wan and W.D. Huang, 2005. Salicylic acid induced the expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene in grape berry. Plant Sci., 169: 928-934. Wintermans, j.F.G.M. and D.E. Mats, 1965. Spectrophtometeric characteristics of chlorophylls and their pheophytins in ethanol. Biochem. Biophys. Acta., pp: 448-453. Yahuaca, B., R. Martinez-Peniche, J.L. Reyes and E. Madero, 2006. Effect of ethephon and girdling on berry

firmness during storage of ‘Malaga Roja’ grape. Acta Hort., 727: 459-465.

Phytohormonal Changes in Fruits of ''Zaghloul'' Date Palm in Relation to Metaxenic Influences of Used Pollinators

1K.M. Farag, 1A.S. Elsabagh and 2H.A. ElAshry 1Department of Horticulture (Pomology), Faculty of Agriculture,

Damanhour University, P.O. Box: 22516, Damanhour, Egypt 2Department of Breeding Research, Horticulture Research Institute,

Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Field experiment of this investigation was carried out on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Zaghloul cultivar growing in Edco district, El-Behera Governorate Egypt during the two successive seasons 2007 and 2008. Two previously studied pollinators were used in this study, named here (A) and (B). The experiment was designed as randomized complete blocks with four replicates (each spathe as one replicate) in addition to the control (non-pollinated spathes). Results proved that pollinated spathes by pollinator (A) had significantly greater GA content than those pollinated with pollinator (B), while the highest content was found in fruits of 3 non-pollinated spathes control in the first season, however a different trend of results was obtained in the

second season. Moreover, there were two district peaks of GA in fruits of pollinated spathes as compared with 3 only one peak of GA increase in fruits of non-pollinated spathes. Spathes pollinated with pollinator (A) 3 showed a higher 1AA content in the fruit as compared with using pollinator (B) in a consistent manner. However, 1AA content in seedless fruits (without pollination) was not consistent, as compared with fruits of pollinated spathes. Fruits of pollinator (B) had significantly greater ABA than those of pollinator (A) in both seasons. Meanwhile, fruits of non-pollinated spathes had consistently greater amount of ABA as compared with fruits of pollinated spathes. Changes over time, proved that ABA tended to increase in the fruit after pollination then declined as the fruit tended to go through the kimri stage of development with a clear pattern especially in the first season. Spathes pollinated with pollinator (A) had significantly greater zeatin content than those pollinated with pollinator (B) in both seasons. However, non-pollinated spathes did not show a consistent pattern in fruit content of zeatin, as compared with that of pollinated spathes. Furthermore there was a clear peak of zeatin content in all types of fruits which coincided with the initiation of the enlargement phase in pollinated spathes. The values and trends of kinetin in the fruit varied between the two seasons, since there was no significant difference in such phytohormones between pollinated and non-pollinated spathes in the first

season. In the second season, fruits of spathes pollinated with pollinator (A) had much higher content of kinetin as compared with those in the spathes pollinated with pollinator (B). The data showed that benzyl adenine content in the fruits of spathes pollinated with pollinator (A) had significantly greater amount than those of spathes pollinated with pollinator (B). Even non-pollinated spathes contained fruits with much less benzyl adenine than fruits of pollinator (A). With regard to the time factor, the data revealed that benzyl adenine by the end of Hababouk reached a peak in the fruit. In conclusion, results revealed that some phytohormones might be involved in such metaxenic effects especially GA , IAA, zeatin and benzyl adenine while abscissic acid 3 was greatest in fruits of non-pollinated spathes as compared with fruits of pollinated spathes. These results could be utilized to recommend pollinator (A) for "Zaghloul" date spathes and may reveal the significance of applying such phytohormones (GA , IAA, zeatin and benzyl adenine) at the beginning of cell enlargement 3 phase (or the Kimri stage) to obtain similar enhancement of such fruit characteristics. Key words: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) % Metaxenic effects % Phytohormones content

Published in : American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (7): 862-871, 2012

ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2012.12.07.1804 REFERENCES 1. Farag, K.M., 2004. Date Palm as Science, Cultivar and Heritage (In Arabic). Editor: Zayed Center for History and Heritage: Al-Ain, UAE, pp: 225. 2. Abbas, M.F., M.J. Abbas and O.I. Abdel-Basint, 2000. Indol-3-acetic acid concentration during fruit development in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L. cv. Hillawi). Fruits-Paris, 55(2): 115-110. 3. Dwivedi, D.H. and L.D. Bist, 2002. Endogenous levels of IAA and ABA in fruits of low chilling pear cultivars. Indian J. Hort., 59(1): 1-6. 4. Tarkowski, P., T. Dano, S. Miro and S.S. Branka, 2006 Cytokinins in the perianth, carpels and developing fruit of Helleborus niger L. Journal of Experimental Botany, 57(10): 2237-2247. 5. Lewis, D., H. Garry, K. Burge, M.E. Hopping and P.E. Jameson, 2008. Cytokinins and fruit development in the kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). II. Effects of reduced pollination and CPPU application. Physiologia Plantarum, 98(1): 187-195 6. Kano, Y. and T. Asahira, 2007. Roles of cytokinin and abscisic acid in the maturing of strawberry fruits., Engei Gakkai Zasshi, 50(1): 31-36 7. Xu Liu, M.L., G. Deng, S. Chen, Y. Ren and W. Liu, 2008. Changes in endogenous hormones and

polyamines of fruit during growth and development of pear Fruits. World Journal of Agricultural Science, 4(1): 40-47 8. Mingan, I., L.X. Deng, G.T. Chen, S. Ren and L. Wei Guo, 2009 Studies on the changes of endogenous hormones during fruit growth and development of two pear cultivars. Journal of Fruit Science, 26(1): 25-31. 9. Wei Chun, Z., W. Yu Tang, W. Jing, H. Ming, T. Ping and D. Xue Jing, 2009. The relationship between endogenous hormone and parthenocarpy in the eggplant fruitlets. Journal of Shenyang Agricultural University, 40(1): 3-6. 10. Omar, A.K.S., 2004. Characterization of some Male Date palm using RAPD and some morphological parameters. Ph.D. Thesis Fac. Agric. Kafr El-Shekh. Tanta Univ., Egypt. 11. Shindy, W.W. and O.E. Smith, 1975. Identification of plant hormones from cotton ovules. Plant Physical., 55: 550-554. 12. Snedecor, G.W. and W.G. Cochran, 1980. Statistical Methods. 7 Ed. The Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames., Iowa, U.S.A. 13. Reuveni, O., 1967. Investigation on the anatomy and physiology of porthenocarpic and seed bearing date fruits (In Hebrew), Ph.D. Thesis Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 1969. 14. Kondo, S., P. Posuya, S.K. Yamarat and N. Hirai, 2001. Abscisic acid metabolism during development and maturation of ramabutan fruit. J. Hort. Sci. and

Biotechnology, 76(2): 235-241.

Effect of Pre- and Post-Harvest Calcium and Magnesium Compounds and Their Combination Treatments on "Anna" Apple Fruit Quality and Shelf Life

Karim M. Farag and Neven M.N. Nagy Department of Horticulture (Pomology), Faculty of Agriculture,

Damanhour University, P.O.Box 22516, Damanhour, Egypt

Abstract This work aimed at investigating the role of Ca2+ and Mg2+ compounds or sources on firmness and quality of "Anna" apple fruits whether applied as preharvest or postharvest treatments. Studies on the role of Mg2+ on these characteristics are rare. Since calcium is immobile nutrient, spray treatment may be less efficient due to the partial deposition and uptake by apple leaves. During 2009 and 2010 seasons, "Anna" apple trees were sprayed ten days before harvest with Ca2+ and, or Mg2+ sources in the form of chloride or sulphate in addition to the control. In the postharvest study, collected apples from untreated trees from the same orchard were dipped in MgCl , CaCl each at 1% or 2% (w/v) alone or in combinations, Ethrel at 100 ppm and (control) 2 2 and then held at room temperature (22±2°C) for 5 days. The preharvest study provided evidence that CaCl2

alone or combined with MgCl resulted in the highest firmness of apple fruits followed by MgSO plus CaSO . 2 4 4 Moreover, the highest values of TSS were found in fruits treated with CaSO alone or combined with MgSO 4 4 when compared with untreated fruits. In addition, CaCl alone or plus MgCl resulted in higher acidity and 2 2 vitamin C than other used treatments. The preharvest applications of various Ca2+ or Mg2+ sources indicated that Ca2+ in the chloride form performed better than Ca2+ in the sulphate form with regard to electrolyte leakage. Meanwhile, the combined form of MgCl plus, CaCl resulted in less leakage as compared with just using MgCl 2 2 2 alone. However, CaCl was still superior to its combination with MgCl in terms of reducing such leakage. 2 2 Carotene content data as another quality attribute of “Anna” apples revealed that apples treated with the sulphate form of Mg2+ had greater carotene content in the skin as compared with those treated with chloride form. The postharvest treatments of various concentrations of CaCl and MgCl (1% or 2% w/v), retarded the 2 2 loss of firmness whether applied individually or in combinations. While Ethrel lead to an adverse effect on flesh firmness in both seasons when compared with the control. Meanwhile, there was no added advantage from increasing the concentration of CaCl or MgCl from 1% to 2% (w/v) with regard to many fruit characteristics 2 2 such as TSS, acidity, chlorophylls a and b and anthocyanin and carotenes in both seasons. It could be

concluded that calcium in the chloride form was mostly effective over the sulphate form while the later was better with regard to enhancing carotene formation. Moreover, it is preferred to treat “Anna” apples after harvest with CaCl plus MgCl (1% w/v) and avoid using Ethrel even at low concentration since it accelerates 2 2 all senescence parameters. Key words: Apple % Calcium % Magnesium % Coloration % Firmness % Plasma membrane integrity % Cell wall breakdown % Tissues senescence Publish in : Journal of Horticultural Science & Ornamental Plants 4 (2): 155-168, 2012 ISSN 2079-2158 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 REFERENCES 1. DeEll, R.J., F. Saad and S. Khanizadeh, 1999. Factors influencing apple fruit firmness. The 42nd Annual IDFTA Conference, February 20-24, Hamilton, Ontario. 2. Raese, J. T. and S. R. Drake, 2002. Ca spray materials and fruit Ca concentrations influence on apple quality. J. Amer. Pomol. Soc., 56: 136-143. 3. Watkins, C.B., E.W. Hewett, C. Bateup, A. Gunson and C.M. Triggs, 1989. Relationships between

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